Data backup, storage, transfer and retrieval system, method and computer program product

Abstract

A data storage system including a virtual server on a network managing a plurality of user accounts, each user account including one or more files; the virtual server adapted to verify user access information for a particular user account; the virtual server transferring over the network information relating to files stored on the virtual server in the particular user account to a verified user on a user computer; the virtual server further adapted to transfer files associated with the particular user account to and from the user computer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A data storage system comprising:
 a virtual server on a network managing a plurality of user accounts, each of the user accounts including one or more files; 
 the virtual server adapted to verify user access information for a particular user account; 
 the virtual server transferring information over the network relating to the one or more files stored on the virtual server in the particular user account to a verified user on a user computer; and, 
 the virtual server further adapted to transfer the one or more files associated with the particular user account to and from the user computer; 
 wherein, the virtual server allows at least one subaccount to be associated with the particular user account, the at least one subaccount requiring verification of subaccount user access information; and 
 wherein, the virtual server maintains file rights permissions of users of the at least one subaccount. 
 
     
     
       2. The data storage system of  claim 1  wherein the virtual server is configured so that a user can access the virtual server using only a browser. 
     
     
       3. The data storage system of  claim 1  wherein the file rights permissions to the at least one subaccount includes prohibiting a subaccount user's ability to delete a file stored on the virtual server. 
     
     
       4. The data storage system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of user accounts has a primary account user, and the at least one subaccount of the particular user account has the file rights permissions being file rights controlled access to subaccount files stored on a system storage device, and to shared account files stored on the system storage device. 
     
     
       5. The data storage system of  claim 4  wherein the primary account user determines the file rights controlled access level for the subaccount. 
     
     
       6. The data storage system of  claim 1  wherein the virtual server can transfer contents of the plurality of user accounts to at least one auxiliary storage location. 
     
     
       7. The data storage system of  claim 6  wherein the virtual server transfers the contents of the plurality of user accounts to the at least one auxiliary storage location periodically. 
     
     
       8. The data storage system of  claim 1  wherein the user computer can display the network information relating to the one or more files stored on the virtual server, the displayed information comprising a list of the one or more files stored on the virtual server in the particular user account. 
     
     
       9. The data storage system of  claim 1  wherein the network is the Internet. 
     
     
       10. A data storage system for storing data files for a plurality of accounts, comprising:
 a virtual server with a storage device operatively connected to a network, the virtual server being adapted to verify account user information for an account user computer seeking to access account files associated with a particular user account stored on the virtual server and to display a list of associated account files associated with the particular user account stored on the virtual server; 
 wherein the virtual server is also adapted to permit the accessed account files associated with the particular user account stored on the storage device to be opened and modified while the accessed account files associated with the particular user account remain stored on the storage device; 
 wherein the particular user account has a primary account and a plurality of subaccounts, each of the plurality of subaccounts having file rights controlled access to a subaccount file stored on the storage device; 
 wherein the file rights controlled access to the subaccount file stored on the storage device includes permitting a subaccount user's ability to modify a particular subaccount file and wherein the modified particular account file associated with the particular user account is saved to the storage device. 
 
     
     
       11. The data storage system of  claim 10  wherein the file rights controlled access to the subaccount file stored on the storage device includes prohibiting a subaccount user's ability to delete the modified particular user subaccount file stored on the storage device. 
     
     
       12. The data storage system of  claim 10  wherein the modified particular account file is saved to a second storage device. 
     
     
       13. The data storage system of  claim 10  wherein the account user computer is a mobile device. 
     
     
       14. The data storage system of  claim 13  wherein the network is the Internet. 
     
     
       15. The data storage system of  claim 10  wherein the file rights controlled access to the subaccount filed stored on the storage device includes limiting subaccount access to only certain file types. 
     
     
       16. The data storage system of  claim 10  wherein the each of the plurality of subaccounts is only accessible from a user computer with a specified IP address.